Not a Soldier Yet |Ao'nung x Neteyam|

3. Nosebleed

The following few weeks went by in a blur. Neteyam slowly mastered riding his ilu, along with Lo'ak and Kiri. Ulro and his cruel little friends left Neteyam alone. Whenever they happened to be nearby and Tsireya or Tonowari were there, the boys glanced around between them nervously. Sometimes Tsireya would notice and would stare them down with a glare that even made Neteyam shudder. He knew though, that eventually the boys would realise that they did not inform the Olo'eyktan.

The necklace of seashells was coming along nicely. Sometimes Tsireya would sit with his as he worked on it, sometimes Lo'ak. Lo'ak would pester him, trying to steal some of his shells to make his own gift for Tsireya, but Neteyam glared at him and Lo'ak quickly retreated, only to try again the neck time he caught Neteyam working on the gift.

Sometimes Neteyam was alone as he worked.

Those times were the most peaceful ones; they were rare. It seemed today was also not one of those days where Neteyam could work in silence by the water.
Ao'nung appeared by his side, grabbing his arm, and prompting him to stand up. They were still not friends, but Ao'nung had stopped insulting him to his face. Neteyam still heard him mocking him and his family to his friends, but never to his face, not since Tonowari once caught him sometime after the incident with Neteyam's wrist. The bruising faded since then, and the small scars disappeared. Even the cuts on Neteyam's knees were long gone. Neteyam quickly put the necklace away into his pouch, staring at Ao'nung, confused.

"Come, we will practise diving." Ao'nung wasted no time, dragging Neteyam along by his arm roughly.

From the corner of his eye, Neteyam noticed his tormentors smirking as they watched the rough handling Neteyam got from Ao'nung. Soon, they were out in the waters and Ao'nung finally let him go. Neteyam wanted to rub his arm where Ao'nung had grabbed him, but resisted, refusing to show weakness in front of the Olo'eyktan's son. An uneasy feeling settled over Neteyam as Ao'nung ushered him deeper into the water. Unlike his siblings, Neteyam struggled with breathing underwater even after all this time and Ao'nung knew that. Whenever Neteyam resurfaced for air during their lessons, the Metcayina would glare at him or sign something to Rotxo that he knows would disappoint his sister; Ao'nung made sure she did not see his gestures. More often than not, Neteyam understood him.

Neteyam must have zoned out, because he was shaken from his thoughts by Ao'nung yanking at one of his braids roughly, drawing a small, held-back hiss from Neteyam. Neteyam reached up to grasp Ao'nung's wrist, challenging him. The Metcayina smirked smugly, satisfied that he managed to draw a reaction from the forest na'vi.
Ao'nung let go of his braid, raising his hands in mock surrender before inhaling and going underwater.
Neteyam glared at the spot Ao'nung had been before following the taller male. Just one moment before Neteyam's head sunk underwater, something grabbed his ankle and dragged him under with much more force than necessary.
The breath he had taken escaped Neteyam and he reached towards to water's surface frantically before his brain registered what had happened.

'Let go.' He signed to Ao'nung, who only grinned, vicious amusement dancing across his pale blue features, shrugging and shaking his head, dragging Neteyam down with him deeper and deeper until the water around them was no longer bright blue.

Neteyam relaxed, slowing his heart beat as Ao'nung pulled him down by his ankle. The Omaticaya closed his eyes, feelings his braids floating around him gently, tangling into each other loosely before coming free again. Suddenly, his ankle was let go and his feet touched the ocean floor. Neteyam opened his eyes, searching for Ao'nung. The Metcayina was right next to him, watching him, seemingly confused by something before rolling his eyes and crossing his arms.

Neteyam did not bother signing anything to him - he focused on his surroundings, watching a small number of tiny, glowing fish swim by followed by something that looked suspiciously like the string rays his father had showed him photos of. After a while, Neteyam felt a burning in his lungs and knew he needed to make his way towards the surface if he wanted to make it in time. He breathed out involuntarily and glanced at Ao'nung.

'I need air,' he signed quickly and kicked away from the ocean floor.

Neteyam did not make it far; Ao'nung grabbed him by a handful of braids and kept him down, using his free arm to hold onto nearby coral to keep both their bodies from floating up. Neteyam stared at him in disbelief, grasping at the hand tangled in his small braids. He kicked his legs around, trying to break free, but Ao'nung was stronger underwater.
With all his might, Neteyam smashed his fist into Ao'nung's nose as the panic of not being able to breathe overtook him. Ao'nung instantly let go and a deep red colour blurred his vision, covering the water in front of his face.

Neteyam's head broke through the surface, gasping. His knuckled ached but he could not bring himself to feel sorry for what he'd just done. He knew Ao'nung would not drown him intentionally, however he felt insulted that the other male even attempted to scare him. Moreover, he was upset that it worked.

"What the hell, forest boy!" Ao'nung yelled the moment he resurfaced, holding his bleeding nose.

Neteyam ignored him, beginning to swim away. Before he could get far, he felt a hand wrap around the base of his queue. Unable to stop himself, he bared his fangs and hissed, snapping to face Ao'nung.
"Let go, fish face. Now."

Ao'nung hesitated, lips parted somewhat, blood smeared all the way to his chin. He did not let go, nor did he pull. The boy kept steady eye-contact with Neteyam, daring him to do anything else.
Neteyam only pursed his lips, ears flattened back. He was struggling to keep his emotions under control - all he felt was helplessness. Every single one of his tormentors pulled on his queue - a part of him he thought nobody, but his future mate would touch. Ao'nung seemed oblivious to Neteyam's distress; the Metcayina tugged gently on the long braid, forcing Neteyam's head to tilt back, facing the sky and baring his throat. It seemed foolish, but Neteyam was glad they were not underwater at least.

"There they are!" Someone shouted from afar, making Ao'nung let go, as if touching him burned. "Neteyam! Ao'nung!"

Neteyam's eyes did burn with powerless tears he struggled to keep from flowing down his cheeks. Lo'ak and Tsireya were riding towards them on their ilus, nearing quickly. Lo'ak seemed relieved to see Neteyam, but the smile froze onto his face, looking out of place, once he noticed the look on his older brother's face. The younger boy caught Ao'nung hurriedly washing off the last of the blood from his face. The bleeding of his nose had stopped. Tsireya, so happy to find them both, did not notice what was happening.
Ao'nung called for his ilu, swimming off without barely a word and sore nosed.

"You okay, bro?" Lo'ak asked quietly.

Neteyam nodded, forcing himself to calm down quickly. "Yeah. Why have you come looking for us?"

Tsireya smiled enthusiastically. "We wanted to ride out and show you how to hunt with Rotxo tomorrow."